Texas History Test Professional Standards & Competencies 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Texas Principal Evaluation and Support System (T-PESS) is designed primarily to:
- Rank principals competitively for merit pay
- Support principal growth and school leadership effectiveness (Correct answer)
- Determine which principals will be dismissed
- Replace the need for annual performance reviews
Correct answer: Support principal growth and school leadership effectiveness
T-PESS is a growth-oriented framework aimed at supporting principals' professional development and improving leadership quality in Texas schools.
Question 2: Under the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS), how many domains are used to evaluate teacher performance?
- Three
- Four (Correct answer)
- Five
- Six
Correct answer: Four
T-TESS uses four domains: Planning, Instruction, Learning Environment, and Professional Practices and Responsibilities.
Question 3: A Texas educator who posts derogatory comments about students on personal social media may face consequences because:
- Social media use is strictly prohibited for educators
- Professional obligations extend beyond campus hours (Correct answer)
- Only comments made during school hours are actionable
- TEA monitors all educator social media accounts
Correct answer: Professional obligations extend beyond campus hours
Texas educator professional standards apply at all times; conduct that harms the profession or students can be sanctioned regardless of when it occurs.
Question 4: Which document outlines the knowledge and skills Texas educators must demonstrate across all certification areas?
- Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
- Educator Standards issued by SBEC (Correct answer)
- Texas Education Code Chapter 28
- The Regional Service Center Curriculum Guide
Correct answer: Educator Standards issued by SBEC
SBEC-issued Educator Standards define the professional competencies required for each Texas educator certification area.
Question 5: When a Texas teacher suspects a student has a learning disability, the appropriate professional standard requires the teacher to:
- Immediately refer the student for special education testing without notification
- Document concerns and initiate a referral through proper school channels (Correct answer)
- Diagnose the disability and create an IEP independently
- Wait until grades decline further before taking action
Correct answer: Document concerns and initiate a referral through proper school channels
Documenting observations and following established referral procedures ensures students receive appropriate evaluation through legally compliant channels.
Question 6: Texas educator certification renewal typically requires completion of:
- A standardized written examination every five years
- Continuing professional education (CPE) hours (Correct answer)
- A classroom observation by the TEA inspector
- Re-submission of original college transcripts
Correct answer: Continuing professional education (CPE) hours
Texas educators must complete continuing professional education hours to renew certification, ensuring ongoing professional growth.
Question 7: In terms of professional competency, Texas standards require educators to use student data primarily to:
- Justify existing instructional practices to administrators
- Rank students publicly to motivate performance
- Inform and adjust instruction to meet student needs (Correct answer)
- Report underperformers to the principal monthly
Correct answer: Inform and adjust instruction to meet student needs
Data-informed instruction—using assessment results to guide teaching decisions—is a core Texas professional competency standard.
Texas History Test Professional Standards & Competencies 3
The Texas Principal Evaluation and Support System (T-PESS) is designed primarily to: